Invasive Plants and Pollinators: Do They Need Each Other?
Invasive plants are unruly and aggressive, but can they help pollinators? The truth is more complicated than a simple yes or no! Native plant gardener Jerad Bryant answers the question. Learn more about pollinators, invasive plants, and what you can do to help.
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Invasive plants are unruly, non-native species that threaten the ecosystem! Their aggressive behavior makes them pests in the landscape. Though they spread rapidly and trample over native plants, they bloom frequently and in big numbers. So, invasive plants must help pollinators, right?
The answer is complex. Invasives do bloom, and yes, they have tons of nectar and pollen-rich flowers that feed local pollinators. These hungry critters need nectar and pollen to survive, and they benefit when more food is available.
Although invasive plants help some pollinators, they’re not essential for them to survive. Native bugs need native plants, water, and shelter more than anything else. They benefit from more food resources; however, you shouldn’t rush to plant more kudzu or Himalayan blackberry in the U.S.!
The Short Answer
Invasives do not need pollinators, and pollinators do not need invasives. They both can help each other thrive, though they’d survive on their own without help. Unruly plants tend to reproduce through self-pollination, rooting stems, and underground rhizomes. They can spread out of control on their own!
Pollinators do not need invasive plants. In some cases, the plants may harm local pollinators instead of helping them! They need flowers from the native plants that evolved near them. When in doubt, choose a native plant over an invasive one.
The Long Answer
Animal-plant partnerships are incredibly complicated. An ecosystem includes every single plant, animal, and microbe inside it. When you consider all the interactions that can occur in your yard, you can make good gardening decisions that help local pollinators thrive.
Native Plants Are Better
Native plants are the best sources of pollen and nectar for pollinating insects and creatures. Insects are either specialists or generalists when it comes to pollinating. Specialists require specific plants to pollinate, while generalists gather resources from a wide range of flowers.
Generalist pollinators fare better than specialists in the presence of invasive plant species. They may be able to adapt to new flower structures and mechanisms, and they’re generally more adventurous than specialists.
To feed both generalists and specialists, sow native wildflowers in every space of your garden. They’ll add color to the yard while they feed local insects.
Invasive Plants vs. Aggressive Species
Not all invasives are the same! The term “invasive” carries some weight with it in the plant world. For a plant to be invasive, it must be non-native and harmful to the local ecosystem. Many non-native plants are perfectly okay in the U.S., as they don’t spread out of control.
It’s the unruly ones you have to worry about, especially when they’re non-native. These pesky specimens push out native plants and change the local environment. Native plants may be aggressive, but they’re never invasive. An invasive must be non-native, by definition.
Some invasives are problematic outside of their state! A plant can be native in California and an unruly spreader in Oregon. Though it may provide resources for pollinators, it’ll harm other nectar-rich species that the insects need to thrive.
Pollinators Aren’t All The Same
Not all pollinators are the same, just as not all aggressive species are the same. Some pollinators are non-native, like European honeybees. We use these bees to boost pollination rates in orchards and farmland.
These foreign honeybees roam outside of the farms and search local areas for resources. They tend to search for flowers that grow in their native range. Because the bees aren’t originally from the U.S., they’ll favor foreign plants over native ones.
As more invasives are pollinated and fewer native species are, the foreign plants will thrive at the expense of the well-behaved local ones. You can move a bee across the world, but you can’t deprogram its natural tendencies.
What You Can Do To Help
So, what can you do to help? The best thing is to plant more native species. Provide valuable nectar, pollen, and seeds by planting more local plant species that thrive in your region. Choose local specimens that fill wild areas with blooms and lush leaves.
Plants, whether invasive or native, do more than feed pollinators—they provide habitat spaces for small mammals, birds, and little creatures. Dead wood, empty crates, and similar wooden structures are great for small critters. Also, add a birdbath or fountain to provide water for thirsty bugs and birds.
If you have invasives in your yard, get rid of them! You may limit their spread in your yard, but it’s hard to prevent them from spreading into wild areas. Birds can eat their fruits and drop their seeds, and waterways can move their seeds and stems into new areas. Stop them in their tracks by ripping them up.
Key Takeaways
- Not all aggressive species are bad. The invasives are the ones to look out for! They alter ecosystems and harm local bugs, birds, and mammals in the long run.
- Native species are the best for pollinators. They provide habitat space, floral resources, and seeds for wildlife.
- Though you may want to rip out invasives in the wild, it’s best to leave them be. New ones will likely sprout in their place after you remove them.
- Rip out invasives in your yard to prevent them from spreading into wild spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are invasive plants illegal?
Not always, but they sometimes are! Many states outlaw the sale and propagation of invasives.
Why are invasive plants dangerous?
They’re dangerous because of their stifling tendencies. They work to change the ecosystem in their favor, which pushes it out of favor for native species.
How do you dispose of invasive plants?
Avoid putting them on the ground; they may resprout! Burn them first by putting them on a concrete surface under direct sunlight, or bag them and let them die inside the bags. Hot compost kills weed seeds and may work well to break down tender invasives.
